On this page

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

Vol. Vil Xjs O. 354.] Saturday, Jantjahy...

~ ' ^ Th E Rumours Of Ministerial Change...

~ ' ^ TH E rumours of Ministerial changes may be worth little as facts , but they prove at least that the friends of the Cabinet are uneasy at its position , or its enemies hopeful . We may feel very little interest in the expected shifting of persons . If Lord Granville should take the place of Lord Ca : si . isle as Viceroy of Ireland , the Irish people , at least in the first instance , will feel some considerable regret . If Sir Hobert Peel were to replace Mr . Hohsman , the Irish might , perhaps , welcome a man -whose warmth of heart and rashness are more congenial to the Irish temper than the thoroughly English Horsman . Should Mr . Sidney IIebbert succeed Lord Panmure as War Minister , he would probably be as efficient in the conduct of business ; and the fact would prove that Lord I * alm krston is not to sustain any assault from the so-called Pekl party . But what then ? The anticipations that Lord Joh & Russell will take Lord Graxville ' s place us President of the Council arc not very strongly asserted ; on the contrary , the wish seems to be father to the thought , and the necessity of recruiting the present Cabinet certainly implies that the leader of the Whig party is likely to discern an opportunity at no distant date of taking a place far more commensurate with his pretensions than the Presidency of the Council . The public certainly is not at present in a condition to reassure the Government under these implied doubts ,- for we are deprived of any information to know how our Ministers really stand , at home or abroad . Admiral Bjbrkklky tolls us that they do not intond to attempt that continuance of the Income-tax which their own supporters have anticipated ; hut the Admiral is only , as he say . s , a subordinate ; be does not know anything of the Cabinet ' s intentions ; and Lords of the Admiralty have been contradicted , even by the Secretaries . We saw an instance lately Avhcn Sir lion 13 kt Picec , a Lord , hazarded n kind of voucher for a candidate at the Greenwich election , and Mr . Osuornk , the Secretary , afterwards told that candidate that he could have no support from the Board of Admiralty . If wo have no means of knowing how the Government is to stand with reference to party or public measures at home , still less do we know its real position in the present position of foreign

affairs . The Powers have at least perceived the dlingers which they would incur by making a scandal of the reassembled Conference . The crowned 1 ' eachem and Lochit have made up their quarrel in private . Russia has consented to a compromise of the Bolgrad question—has , in fact , given up the point ; and is repaid by a slice of territoi ' y on the north of Moldavia . Bolgrad , the Lsle of Serpents , the Danube delta , —all , Russia relinquishes ; but of course she thinks that she can attain her ohject by other channels . While our Government has thus consented to fall' into a doubtful position with regard to Russia , our strength is expended in distant quarters . The attack upon Herat may be necessary , but many believe that the true key to lock that door would be found in St . Petersburg . Nor is Herat the most remote place upon which we are now wasting our strength . AVe are at war with China ! for , although war has not been formally declared , it is actually proceeding . A . dispute has arisen between Governor-General Ykh and Sir Superintendent Bowring , hrought about oy subordinates . Indeed , it was originally a quarrel between the Chinese — the soldier-police of Canton and certain very question- ! able boatmen . One of the small bouts which have been permitted to carry British Hags , because they trade with Ilong Kong , was seized by the riverpolice on the ground of piracy or smuggling . In this enforcement of the Canton . Thames-police Mr . Consul Parkks saw a grievous injury to the British Hag . There was a reason icUy he . discerned an affair of honour in the case . The " British had long been waiting for an opportunity to break down the e . xelusivene » s of ( Jovernor-Gcneral Yj : ii , avIio appears to belong to the high Tory party of the Celestial l' > . uipire—that party which would for ever shut the ' central llowery nation' against , burlnirio in' traders like the vulgar British , llu had therefore refused to permit any communication between the British and the Chine . se part of the city , differing in that respect from the authorities at other ports to which the British have access . Here was an opportunity , then , of compelling him to come to an understanding ; and Admiral Seymour was called ia with his artillery . The city of Canton and its fortifications were subjected to alternate bombardments , entrances of the troops , and offers to accept submission . But Yeh submitted not , ; he only retreated ; and at the despatch of the last i alvicea , we appeared to be gradually entering into

some tedious contest which . might become a Tvar with China . Eussia , of course , will not feel less confidence when she perceives that the most formidable of her antagonists is thus engaged in Central Asia and the far East . Oar Government is mediating between Prussia and Switzerland . So far as we have had any explanations hitherto , it would appear that our Ministers have sustained the extravagant claim , of King Frederick \ Yilliam for the resuscitation of his feudal principality over the canton of Neufchatel . The de facto state of things , the quiescence of Prussia hitherto , the common sense of the question , and policy , —all dictate a confirmation of Switzerland ' s , claim to be relieved of the obsolete feudality ; but our Ministers evidently treat the question as one in which Switzerland must pay a deference as from an inferior to a superior . This is not the feeling of England . It is not the feeling even of German . States , which have been accustomed to subserviency . The Wurteinberg deputies have protested against the passage of Prussian troops for the purpose of waning on Switzerland in defence of a title in the King of Pnussu , which is not a German title the interests are not German . Indeed , the claim is to the detriment of German interests ; for military movements disturb the commerce of the territories in which they take place ; and the Wurtembergers positively protest against being involved in the personal disputes of KingFitBDErick William , ' the more especially as Switzerland is 11 quiet and advantageous neighbour . From this manifesto alone . it is quite clear that if our Clo-vcrnment had taken a decided sta , nd by the side-of Switzerland , it would have been sustained by a' public opinion in Germany as well as in Italy . We need say nothing about the public opinion in France . According to the report of Lord Panmuke , we need be under no necessity for singing small . His countrymen have recently become keenly alive to his merits , and not without reason . Lord PanjM-kk has for a long time been kept away from his family estates , for causes well known . Ho has arrived there when ho is no longer a young man , hut still in the vigour of life . He has Interested himself very actively in the welfare of'fm ^ teiiyyftsl 1 v , He has been highly successful as ^ ' adjtfSuitfS ^^ izTO'S ) ,. ! ,, statesman , and hia countrymen % > B ^ f ^ al ^^ M ^^ - ; . proud of him , while his neighbourfgaoQljijii fiWt ^ i ' i , ; ;' as a very useful example among ^ e ^ wfct ^ rarrf , " , ' ' ¦¦ '' ¦ ¦ ' & Ca , 2 T ;> V \ . X'l' - - ¦ ¦ . fa «>; SL h .- ' . lA \ ¦¦ - ¦ ¦ r . vvrs •;'• - * /^